Lock side bar energized switch



Nov. 23, 1965 JOHNSTQNE 3,219,768

LOCK SIDE BAR ENERGIZED SWITCH Filed May 7, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Thaoa'are 1'7! Johnszozze 0 I Q 6 I M H25 ATTORNEY N 1965 T. H. JOHNSTONE LOCK SIDE BAR ENERGIZED SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May '7, 1963 IN VENTOR.

BY CRNW T N! f w W w 351i I WW, w M W x n R m A I 0 I72 wlul. I N m Z. M Z 7 4 7 1 A a T 0 6 y Z M Theodore 1'25 ddms'fozze ,ws term/mgr Nov. 23, 1965 T. H. .JQHNSTONE LOCK SIDE BAR ENERGIZED SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May '7, 1963 g now/ll V BY GRW HAS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,219,768 LOCK SIDE BAR ENERGIZED SWITCH Theodore H. Johnstone, New Baltimore, Mich, assignor to General Motors Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 7, 1963, Ser. No. 278,570 8 Claims. (Cl. 20044) This invention relates to electrical switches and more particularly to the type of electrical switch that is carried by a lock side bar and is actuated by the movement of the lock side bar as it frees the lock cylinder for rotation.

It is an object of this invention to provide an electrical switch that is operable upon insertion of a key into the ignition cylinder without any further movement of the lock cylinder.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an electrical switch that is positive in its operation and in which part of the electrical circuit is carried by the lock side bar.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an electrical switch that can be mounted on a lock cylinder of an existing design.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away of a side bar actuated switch made in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and line 22 of FIGURE 3 showing the tumbler and lock side bar in cross section;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2 showing the operative parts of the invention in cross section;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3 showing the side bar in its fully retracted position;

FIGURE 5 illustrates a top view of the lock side bar viewed through the radial locking slot as indicated by the direction of the arrow 5 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3 showing the lock side bar in its fully extended position.

In FIGURE 1 is seen the lock cylinder 18 and the lock side bar assembly 30 in a typical operating position with the key 11 inserted. In the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGURE 1, a mounting esc-utcheon operates with the threaded portion 12 of the cylinder case 14 to hold the assembly in firm engagement with a metal support plate 16, such as the instrument panel of an automobile.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, the lock assembly includes a cylinder 18 having a vertical slot 20 which slidably supports the tumbler 22A. The tumbler 22A is biased towards the top of the slot by a spring means 24. The tumbler spring 24 is held in firm attachment to the lock cylinder 18 by a tumbler spring retainer 26 which is secured to the lock cylinder 18 in any well-known manner. In perpendicular juxtaposition to slot 20 is a slot 28 which slidably supports the lock side bar designated by the numeral 34. The side bar springs 32 hold the lock side bar 34 having a portion 35 in biased contact with a series of tumblers as indicated by the numerals 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22B and 22F in FIGURE 3 and sectionally shown in FIGURES 4 and 6. The side bar springs 32 are interposed between the side bar 34 and the fixed side bar spring retainers 33. The lock side bar assembly 3,219,768 Patented Nov. 23, 1965 as shown in FIGURE 4 is in the fully retracted position while in FIGURE 6 the lock side bar is in the fully extended position.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the side bar 34 is shown in section with an insulated conductive element 36 therein. Forming the ends of the slot 28 are the inserts 38 and 46. Embedded in the insert 38 is a conductive element 40. On one end of the insert 38 is a spring metal contact 42 fastened so that it is in electrical contact with the conductive element 40. The spring metal contact 42 makes contact with an arcuate conductive segment 44 embedded in a portion of the cylinder case 14. As the lock side bar assembly 30 moves with the lock cylinder as the key is turned, the spring metal contact 42 maintains electrical contact with the arcuate conductive segment 44. The insert 46 forming the opposite end of the slot 28 also has a conductive element 48 contained within it. Disposed at the end of this insert and embedded in it is the spring metal contact 50 which is in electrical contact with the element 48. Embedded in the cylinder case 14 is the arcuate segment conductor 52. The spring metal contact 50 maintains electrical contact with the arcuate segment conductor 52 as the lock cylinder is rotated in normal operation. The arcuate segment conductor 52 is surrounded by an insulator material 54 which electrically insulates the arcuate segment conductor 52 from the cylinder case 14. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the arcuate segment conductor 52 has attached on one end the spring metal slide contact 56. This spring metal slide contact 56 maintains electrical contact with an arcuate conducting block 58 which is embedded in and forms a portion of the insulator ring 60. The insulator ring 60 is rotatable within the housing 63 by means of pressure exerted on the extension 62 of the insulator ring which moves in the arcuate slot 61. The arcuate conducting block 58 which is a part of the insulator ring 60 is disposed so that it makes contact with either one or several of the external lead strips 64A, 64B or 640 depending on its relative position in rotation while maintaining contact with the arcuate conducting block 58. The external lead strips 64A, 64B and 64Ca1'e embedded in a portion of the housing designated by the numeral 65. This portion of the housing is composed of an insulating material.

In a typical application, this invention is mounted around a conventional lock cylinder used for an ignition switch on an automobile. In a cycle of operation, the key 11 is inserted into the lock cylinder. As the key is inserted, it progressively makes contact with and moves the tumblers 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E and 22F into a position where they form an elongated slot due to the aligned depressions on the side of the tumblers 22. Formation of this elongated slot allows the portion of the side bar 34 to move into the slot due to its being in biased attachment to the lock cylinder body, and this movement frees the lock cylinder for rotary movement. As the lock side bar moves from the position shown in FIGURE 6 to the position shown in FIGURE 4, it also closes an electrical circuit as hereinafter described. This electrical circuit allows the energizing of certain electrical equipment, not shown, attached to lead 64A, 64B and 64C and ultimately to the lock cylinder from the battery only while the key is inserted in the ignition switch. This circuit is formed through the housing 63, is grounded to the support plate 16, then to the arcuate conductive segment 44 that is in electrical contact with the spring metal contact 42, thus allowing current to flow through the conductive element through side bar conductive element 36 over to the conductive element 48 through the spring metal contact and on to the arcuate segment conductor 52. The current path, then, is through the spring metal slide contact 56 which is in constant biased engagement with the arcuate conducting block 58 that is a part of the insulator ring 60. By moving the extension 62 of the insulator ring 60 in the slot 61, an operator can move the arcuate conducting block 58 in an arcuate path so as to make contact with any one of the contacts 64A, 64B or 64C, or 64B with 64A or 64C in the alternative, and also the alternative of leaving the arcuate conducting block 58 free of any electrical contact. In this fashion, any one or two of several pieces of electrical equipment of an automobile can be operated only while the key is inserted in the ignition switch and, upon retraction of the key from the i gnition switch, these circuits are automatically deenergized.

The utility of this invention is immediately seen in that it prevents an operator of an automobile from inadvertently leaving any of the referenced equipment as a load on the battery while the ignition key is withdrawn from the lock cylinder. This means of automatically deenergizing several circuits to auxiliary equipment of an automobile has the effect of lengthening the lifeof the battery. Further utility is demonstrated by this invention in that it provides an improved method of surrounding power accessories with the same security afforded the ignition system.

While the embodiment of the present invention, as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a switch housing having a rotatable lock cylinder disposed therein, said lock cylinder including tumblers movable in response to a key to form a lateral slot, and a lock side bar movable from locking engagement with the housing into said lateral slot to free the lock cylinder for rotation, an electric switch comprising: a switching means for a plurality of electrical circuits, said switching means including the lock side bar having a conductive path therein, and means forming an interrupted conductive path to said plurality of electrical circuits, said switch means. being operated by the insertion of the lock side bar carried conductive path into the interruption in the conductive path to the plurality of electrical circuits as the side bar moves during key insertion, thereby completing a circuit to said plurality .of electrical circuits.

2. In a switch housing having a rotatable lock cylinder disposed therein, said lock cylinder including tumblers movable in response to a key to form a lateral slot, and a lock side bar movable from locking engagement with the housing into said lateral slot to free the lock cylinder for rotation, an electric switch comprising: a switching means for a plurality of electrical circuits, said switching means comprising the lock side bar having a conductive path therein and first means forming an interrupted conductive path to said plurality of electrical circuits, said switching means being operated by the insertion of a key into said lock cylinder causing the lock side bar carried conductive path to be positioned in the interruption of the conductive path to said plurality of electrical circuits, said positioning completing an electrical path therethrough energizing the plurality of electrical circuits.

3. In a switch housing having a rotatable lock cylinder disposed therein, said lock cylinder including tumblers movable in response to a key to form a lateral slot, and a lock side bar movable from locking engagement with the housing into said lateral slot to free the lock cylinder for rotation, an electric switch comprising: a movable conducting means and a stationary conducting means, said movable conducting means being carried by the lock side bar of the lock cylinder, said stationary conducting means having intermittent spaced non-conductive areas therein into which said movable conducting means is positioned to bring about a continuous conductive path in response to key insertion into the lock cylinder.

4. In a switch housing having a rotatable lock cylinder disposed therein, said lock cylinder including tumblers movable in response to a key to form a lateral slot, and a lock side bar movable from locking engagement with the housing into said lateral slot to free the lock cylinder for rotation, an electric switch comprising: an electrical switch having movable conducting means for making or breaking an electrical circuit, and a stationary conducting means for receiving said movable conducting means, said movable conducting means being disposed in the lock side bar of the lock cylinder, said stationary conducting means having intermittent spaced non-conductive areas in its conductive path into which the movable conducting means is disposed when the lock side bar is positioned as a key is inserted into the lock cylinder.

5. In a switch housing having a rotatable lock cylinder disposed therein, said lock cylinder including tumblers movable in response to a key to form a lateral slot, and a lock side bar movable from locking engagement with the housing into said lateral slot to free the lock cylinder for rotation, an electric switch comprising: an electrical switch having a movable conducting means and a stationary conducting means including a conductive path for engaging said movable conducting means, said movable conducting means including the side bar and a conductive path imbedded therein, said stationary conducting means being disposed with an interruption in the conductive path and contacts at each end of the interruption, said movable conducting means being moved into engagement with said contacts by the movement generated in the side bar when a key is inserted into the lock cylinder.

6. In a switch housing having a rotatable lock cylinder disposed therein, said lock cylinder including tumblers movable in response to a key to form a lateral slot, and a lock side bar movable from locking engagement with the housing into said lateral slot to free the lock cylinder for rotation, an electric switch comprising: a conductive path imbedded in the lock side bar and an interrupted conductive path carried by the tumblers of the lock cylinder, said conductive path imbedded in the lock side bar being caused to move towards the tumblers upon insertion of a key into the lock cylinder, said interrupted conductive path including contacts formed at either end thereof and carried by said tumblers, and an arcuate conductive strip carried by the lock cylinder, said movement of the lock side bar engaging said contacts making the interrupted circuit continuous, the newly created continuous circuit being disposed to slidably contact the conductive strip on the lock cylinder while the tumblers are rotated in a manner allowing the continuous circuit to be kept energized during the rotation.

7. In a switch housing having a rotatable lock cylinder disposed therein, said lock cylinder including tumblers movable in response to a key to form a lateral slot, and a lock side bar movable from locking engagement with the housing into said lateral slot to free the lock cylinder for rotation, an electric switch comprising: an electrical switch including a first and a second switching means, said first switching means being energized by the insertion of a key into the lock cylinder whereby the lock side bar moves toward said tumblers allowing free rotation thereof, the lock cylinder carrying a rotatable arcuate conductive strip, said tumblers carrying an interruptible conductive path from the lock side bar to said arcuate conductive strip allowing electrical current to flow to said second switching means during the rotation of the key in the lock cylinder, said second switching means including a circumferentially mounted electrical switch including said arcuate conductive strip and a series of fixed contacts, said second switching means being energized by said arcuate conductive strip maintaining a sliding contact with said fixed contacts during the period of time from insertion of the key into the lock cylinder to the extraction of the key from the lock cylinder irrespective of the radial position of the key in the lock cylinder.

8. The combination of a housing for an ignition lock cylinder of the type having a lock side bar, and an electric switch, the ignition lock cylinder having tumblers and a conductive path carried by said tumblers, the lock side bar engaging the switch housing to provide a radial lock for the lock cylinder when the ignition key is withdrawn from the lock cylinder, and including means for causing the lock side bar to move toward said tumblers thereby allowing free rotation of said tumblers when a key in inserted, said switch comprising; the lock side bar carrying a conductive path imbedded therein disposed to make continuous an interrupted conductive path carried by said tumblers as the radial lock is released, said continuous conductive path kept energized as the tumblers are rotated to various radial positions, the lock cylinder carrying an arcuate conductive strip with external leads slidingly engageable therewith, said conductive strip disposed to contact the continuous conductive path created 6 ing tumbler rotation thereby making the lock side bar an electrical switch in a circuit connected to said external leads.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,036,115 7/1912 Hoffman et al 200-42 1,095,279 5/1914 Hull. 2,105,304 1/1938 Wagner 200-44 2,348,134 5/1944 Jacobi 20044 2,536,918 1/1951 Dorfman 20044 2,735,916 2/1956 Arnejo 20044 BERNARD A, GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

by the shifted lock side bar and maintain the contact dur- 15 R ER SQHAEFER, Examine"- 

3. IN A SWITCH HOUSING HAVING A ROTATABLE LOCK CYLINDER DISPOSED THEREIN, SAID LOCK CYLINDER INCLUDING TUMBLERS MOVABLE IN RESPONSE TO A KEY TO FORM A LATERAL SLOT, AND A LOCK SIDE BAR MOVABLE FROM LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HOUSING INTO SAID LATERAL SLOT TO FREE THE LOCK CYLINDER FOR ROTATION, AN ELECTRIC SWITCH COMPRISING: A MOVABLE CONDUCTING MEANS AND A STATIONARY CONDUCTING MEANS, SAID MOVABLE CONDUCTING MEANS BEING CARRIED BY THE LOCK SIDE BAR OF THE LOCK CYLINDER, SAID STATIONARY CONDUCTING MEANS HAVING INTERMITTENT SPACED NON-CONDUCTIVE AREAS THEREIN INTO WHICH SAID MOVABLE CONDUCTING MEANS IS POSITIONED TO BRING ABOUT A CONTINUOUS CONDUCTIVE PATH IN RESPONSE TO KEY INSERTION INTO THE LOCK CYLINDER. 